Karl: Embarrassing second half

Karl Robinson was furious with his side’s second half performance in their 2-1 defeat to Stevenage in Round 2 of Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

His side’s poor showing after half-time saw them throw away a one-goal lead and suffer a second straight defeat, for the first time this season.

The Dons led early on through a Shaun Williams penalty but goals from Francois Zoko Filipe Morais saw the men from MK1 exit the Football League competition.

It was no surprise, therefore, when a disappointed Robinson slammed his players for what he described as an ‘embarrassing’ second half.

Speaking after the game, he said: “That last 45 minute was embarrassing, a shambles. They should have beaten us 4-1, we were poor. I’ll defend these players to the hilt but today that wasn’t acceptable.

“We beat them 4-1 ten days ago playing our way, we were winning 1-0 playing our way and then we were battered 2-0 in the second half playing a style I’ve never seen before. It’s poor, we’re not known for that.

“They know and they’ve seen my reaction and they won’t play like that again, I’ll tell you that. We’re in tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock and they’ll be in the Lecture Theatre watching that shambles of a 45 minutes.

“They weren’t all bad and I thought there four or five players who had a right good go but generally it was poor and they need to learn lessons very, very quickly.”